it was the state that gave president obama -- senator obama his first victory. and he won iowa four years ago in the general election, considered a battleground state. both campaigns really going after it. four years ago goi, 545,000 iowans cast ballots early. and that was almost double what they did eight years prior. so early voting is important in iowa as it is in a bunch of these other states and that's why you're seeing the campaigns really press there not just in october, but now and in august because they knew that a lot of these voters will be casting ballots before the debates. >> when i was a kid, early voting was because you couldn't vote on election day and i know a lot of things have changed. we have cell phones now. but we have really important days coming up on the calendar and i'm speaking of the debates. we learn so much about these candidates. and if you vote early, they don't matter at all. >> exactly. the presidential debate, the first one will be in denver, colorado next wednesday. but by next wednesday, ten states will be voting early. and